Flower holder



W. O. ROY

Cet. 20, 1931.

FLOWER HOLDER Filed Aug; 2v, 1929 ghghmf @Hom/Lug f Patented ct. 20, v1931 PATENT OFFICE 'Wm ORHIBTON BOY, 0l' MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA FLOWER HOLDER Application illed Aufult 27, 1929. Serial N0. 388,685.

My invention relates to such holders as are used for the temporary preservation of cut lowers b retaining them in contact with a sullly o water, or other refreshing liquid.

e meanls whereby the stems of the cut flowers may be held in such positions and under such conditions that a supply of water will be fur7 nished to them irrespective of the position 1n which'the flowers and the holder may be laid,

vand to do this in such a. way that the .water may be freely taken up by the flowers wlthout producing a downward suction or pull on their stems or the influx of air into the recep- 15j tacle from which the water is taken up.

Another object of my invention is to provide a holder which shall be flexible, and of a neat form which will lend itselfto use for the holding of iowers for personal adornrhent for'y instance, corsage bouquets and the like; another object of my invention is to provide means whereby pressure may be applied to the water so as to urge it up into the of the iowers for the more eiiicient servlng of the water to thelowers.

These and other advantages of my invention will be hereinafter more fully explained l and pointed out.

In the drawings Figure 1 1s an elevation of my improved flower holder, showing 1t as holding a selection of cut flowers;.F1gure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, the lower portion being broken off Ihgure 3 1s a cross sectional view taken on the hne 3 3 of Fi 2, looking down.

hollow neck l, preferably of spun metal or the like, isy provided with means whereby the baglike body 2 of the holder may be securely attached to the neck. In the drawings s I have shown the neck as provided with bea 3, 4 at its opposite ends and with an intermediate bead 5 running around it.

`The body 2 is preferably formed of rubber or a similar iiexible water-tight material. In

the drawings Ihave shown this body in the form of an elongated sack of comparatively thin rubber having a neck, preferably iinished at its outer end with a strengthening bead 6 adapted to contract tightly around the neck 1 above the bead 5. Below the bead 5 cts of my invention are to lprovide the body 2 hubs closely around the neck 1 spreading slightly to pass around the bead 4. This portion of the sack-body 2 ma be further secured to the neck lby a suitab e cement if that is desired. The arrangement is such as to make a water-tight and air-tight connection between the rigid neck 1 and the liexible y sack-body 2. l

In use the sack-body is filled with water 8 and flower stems 9, 9, are passed down into the sack-body. Preferably a packing 10, such as moss or the like, is inserted around the stems of the iiowers near the lower end of the neck,to form a sort of dam; and then a sealing element 11 of suitable material, for instance melted wax or a viscd kor plastic cement which will readily harden or set, is poured into `the neck 1 around and between the stems 9, 9 so as to fill up the neck, above the dam 10, and make a tight seal around the stems and between them and the neck of the holder. It will be understood that this sealing material must be of a character which will not injuriously effect the stems so as t0 interfere with the natural course of the water up through them to the blooms.

When the sealing element 11 has set the iiower stems will be securely held in roper position, their portions within the sac -body being immersed in the water contained in it. The iiowers and their holder may now be laid in any position without the water escaping from around thef flower-stems, which is a great advantage in the actualhandlin of cut owers for sale in bouquets or for usey purchasers; for the flowers are kept constantly fresh, and are also assembled in neat and attractive bouquet form. If desired the sackbody may be made quite attenuated, and may be made of a suitable color which will harmonize with the green offoliage, or the color of the lowers,'or the costume of one who may be carrying or wearing the flowers.

As the water is taken up by the flower stems the sack-body gradually collapses, so that no partial vacuum is created within it by outflow of the water, and no downesuction is exerted through the flower stems or through the sealing element. This is very important. For if the holder could not collapse in'ths the I `way and coin nsate for the loss of water out of it a partia vacuum must be formed within it with the tendency to hold back and stop the passa of the water up through the stems, or even t e suction of air down through the stems or the sealing element, so that the blooms would be deprived of the free passage of water to them through the stems.

Besides, if it is desired, pressure may be exerted upon the sack-body, as by the closing of a hand around it with the result of pressing, forcin or pum ing the water up through the stems t us acce erating its course toward the foliage and blooms.

I desire it to be understood that the form of the container might be varied, and, if desired, more than one neck could be placed in the sack-body at different points, so that a plurality of groups of owers might be carried by one container. This feature of my invention permits its-use for oral designs, and renders it peculiarly adapted for use in such places as cemeteries where it is desired to have the liowers retain their freshness as long as possible without requiring frequent watering or the use of special vases or`other conventional water holders to supply the fiowers with water.

I desire it to be understood that the form of container illustrated in the drawings, is, therefore, typical but not exclusive. For it is obvious that details may be modified as by the use of equivalents without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A flower holder comprising a flexible sack-body provided with anfopen neck element adapted to allow the passage of flower stems through it and into the sack-body, and a plastic sealing element closing the space betweln the stems and the inner face of the nec 2. A ower holder comprising a exible sack-body provided with an open neck element adapted to allow the passage of flower stems through it and into the sack-body, a packing element in the lower part of the neck around the flower stems, and a plast-ic sealing element above and resting upon the packing element closing the s ace between lthe stems and the inner face o the neck.

3. A flower holder comprising an attenuated, elastic sack-body provided with a metallic, open neck element adapted to allow the passage of fiower stems through it and into the sack-body, and a plastic sealing element closing the s ace between the stems and the inner face of e neck.

4. A fiower holder comprising a collapsible sack-body adapted to contain water, an opening into the sack-body adapted to permit the insertion of flower stems; and means for hermetcally closing the space within the opencontainer.

WILLIAM ORMISTON ROY. 

